Heavy Military Deployment Expected to Reduce Security Risks at Olympic Games in Rio, IHS Markit Says

85,000 security personnel for Brazil’s Olympic Games double number at London in 2012

Theft risks around Olympic Games Venues: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Graphic: Buisness Wire)

LEXINGTON, Mass.--()--The main threat to visitors of the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro is street robbery: having wallets, mobile phones, purses, or jewelry stolen, sometimes with the threat or use of violence. Those venturing outside tourist zones and Olympic sites are at particular risk, according to Rio City Risk Intelligence from IHS Markit (Nasdaq: INFO), a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions.

“A total of 85,000 security personnel will be deployed in Olympic venues and tourist areas, double the number mobilized during the London 2012 Olympics, and more than the 2014 Brazil World Cup,” according to Carlos Caicedo, senior principal analyst, IHS Country Risk. “IHS assesses that this saturation of security force deployment will be effective in containing crime, unrest and vandalism during the Olympics, as was the case during the World Cup.”

Theft hotspots include downtown Rio, particularly the areas close to Uruguaina, Presidente Vargas and Central Metro stations. Additional spots include the main hotel areas, specifically the beach promenades of Copacabana, Leblon and Ipanema, where tourists are less alert, facilitating opportunistic snatch-and-run theft. Homicide affects mostly locals in the city's slums rather than tourist zones or areas located near Olympic sites.

The total cost of the Rio Games came in at USD 4.1 billion, well below the USD 6.4 billion included in the original bidding. This compares well with the London 2012 Games, which cost USD 6.5 billion. It is also worth noting that about 70 percent of the total cost of the Rio games was funded by the private sector.

Additionally, the Federal government has also authorized extraordinary aid worth USD 850 million, which is being used to pay wages of public servants, particularly police officers, who had not received their salaries since May. This is likely to mitigate the risk of police, who protested at Rio’s Galeão international airport in late June and early July, from going on strike during the Olympic Games.

Rio City Risk Intelligence assesses street-level risk intelligence based on a comprehensive assessment of the latest open source events, statistical crime rate data and on the ground human source intelligence. This service from IHS delivers clear, precise, high-resolution interactive map layers of risks.

About IHS Markit (www.ihsmarkit.com)

IHS Markit (Nasdaq: INFO) is a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions for the major industries and markets that drive economies worldwide. The company delivers next-generation information, analytics and solutions to customers in business, finance and government, improving their operational efficiency and providing deep insights that lead to well-informed, confident decisions. IHS Markit has more than 50,000 key business and government customers, including 80 percent of the Fortune Global 500 and the world’s leading financial institutions. Headquartered in London, IHS Markit is committed to sustainable, profitable growth.

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IHS Markit
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Katherine.Smith@ihsmarkit.com
or
Press Team
+1 303-305-8021
press@ihs.com

Release Summary

Heavy Military Deployment Expected to Reduce Security Risks at Olympic Games in Rio, IHS Markit Says

Contacts

IHS Markit
Kate Smith, +1 781-301-9311
Katherine.Smith@ihsmarkit.com
or
Press Team
+1 303-305-8021
press@ihs.com